Derby-based Rolls-Royce has announced a new ‘hydrogen programme’ and given a further update on its research into hybrid-electric power as it continues to ‘pioneer new forms of aviation sustainability’. The company said: “Rolls-Royce is planning a comprehensive series of rig and engine tests to prove the fuel can safely and efficiently deliver power for small to mid-size aircraft from the mid-2030s onwards. We have further ambitions to move this on to a flight test phase as part of the programme in the long term.”

Two ground tests are planned: the first on a Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engine in the UK this year; and a Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 jet engine at a future date. A range of location options are being assessed for this, including the Rolls-Royce test facility in Mississippi (the USA).

This will build on hydrogen combustion tests already well underway in partnership with Loughborough University and the German Research Institute DLR, along with Cranfield University’s input on fuel system management.

The programme follows market research carried out by the UK Aerospace Technology Institute’s ‘Fly Zero’ team and Project NAPKIN (New Aviation Propulsion Knowledge and Innovation Network), both of which had Rolls-Royce representation; both concluded there is market potential for hydrogen-powered aircraft.

The programme also complements broader research into hydrogen infrastructure and transportation that Rolls-Royce is already carrying out with EasyJet. Hybrid-electric and hydrogen power systems are also part of a regional aircraft research project underway with Wideroe and Embraer.

Hybrid electric research
Rolls-Royce said: “The company’s hybrid electric research has been carried out on our Power Generation System 1 demonstrator, which is made up of an AE 2100 engine with specialist controls and thermal management systems. Recent tests in Bristol and Trondheim (Norway) confirmed the system delivered more than 1.5MWh of power — the first time this has been achieved in the aviation sector.

“We are now taking that huge amount of learning and carrying out further work to understand how a production version of PGS1 might be achieved and discussing with airframers what their future requirements might be.”

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has entered the final build phase for the world’s largest aero-engine technology demonstrator, UltraFan. The demonstrator engine, which has a fan diameter of 140in, is being completed at the company’s facility in Derby, prior to its first run — on 100% SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) — later this year.

It offers a 25% fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engine. “In the nearer term, there are options to transfer technologies from the UltraFan development programme to current Trent engines to deliver even greater fuel efficiency and reductions in emissions. In the longer term, UltraFan’s scalable technology from 25,000-100,000lb thrust offers the potential to power new narrowbody and widebody aircraft anticipated in the 2030s.